See Alfred at Lives of the First World War
Alfred was born in 1879 in Stourport, Worcestershire. His parents were also Alfred and Hannah, both born in Birmingham. By the census of 1881, they were living at 2 Lorne Terrace, Bordesley Park Road, Birmingham. Alfred the father is listed as a machine fitter. At this time, Alfred has an older brother, George (5, a scholar) who must have been born in about 1876, and a younger sister Elizabeth (Lizzie) who was 6 months old. All of the children are listed as having been born in Stourport, so the family must have just moved to Bordesley when the census was taken.
By the 1891 census, the family is living at 4 Brunswick Place, Wellington Street in Rotton Park, which is in Edgbaston. At this time, George who was 15 is not listed as living at home. Instead, he is registered as a visitor not far away at 5 Wellington Place, Wellington Street living with an Andrew Mitchell, a 27 year old Iron Moulder. His occupation is an Engine Fitter. At this time, Alfred has two more younger sisters, Ada aged 8, and Alice aged 2, both born in Birmingham. Hannah would have been about 37 when Alice was born. Alfred, the father is listed as a machine fitter and tool maker, while the younger Alfred, Lizzie (not Elizabeth this time), and Ada are scholars.
In 1901, the family is still in Rotton Park, but now at 25 Laxey Road. This was later referred to as the family home and is the only one that seems to still exist. The elder son George, by now 25, is listed at number 27, with his wife Priscilla, and 1 year old daughter Doris. He is working as a machine fitter. The younger Alfred is now working as a cabinet maker, while the two elder daughters are also at work, as warehouse assistants.
Alfred married a Sarah Ann(ie) Ball in 1909, and had a son George the following year. In 1911, Alfred is 33, and a chair maker, and Sarah is 25. Sarah is listed as having been born in Pensnett, Dudley, and George was born in Smethwick. They are living at 28 Thomas Street, Smethwick, a house of 3 rooms (not counting a scullery I would assume as kitchens counted but sculleries didn't). Alfred signed this census return.
He joined the Second Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment in July 1916. This was after the major Somme offensive of 1st July, and was probably a result of being conscripted following the changes to the Military Service Act of 1916, which was amended in May of that year to include married men for the first time.
According to the National Roll of Honour, he received training and then was sent to France. 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshires formed part of the Sixth Brigade, Second Division which were at the Western Front throughout the war. He saw action at Arras, Beaumont-Hamel, Albert, Peronne, and Cambrai. The Roll then says that he was killed on 4th March, 1917. It also gives the same address of 28 Thomas Street.
According to the official history of the 2nd Division, the 2nd South Staffords had seen intense action at Baillescourt Farm near Miraumont on 17th February, as the British forces had continued their push to take high ground over the German positions. Some of the battalion had made their objective, after having become bogged down in the mud and strayed somewhat in the fog. It was later discovered that the Germans had advanced warning of this attack and were well prepared. However, the battalion found itself unsupported as other units had not made their objectives, so they returned to their starting position. The battalion suffered over 100 casualties, including nine of the ten officers involved. It is at this point that Alfred may have been injured, evacuated back to either the 49th or 9th Casualty Clearing Station, and died there, to have been buried in the cemetery established by those CCSs at Contay. The battalion was moved back to reserve lines the following day. They remained in reserve for the rest of the month. There are other possible actions that happened right around the beginning of March, but this requires further research, probably from the battalion war diary, which is available from the National Archive for a fee.
There are other possibilities surrounding Alfred's fate, however. The first is suggested by the word "died" which is the only detail provided Alfred's entry in the 1920 publication, "Soldiers Died in the Great War". It has been suggested that this may mean that Alfred died of sickness or in an accident. Of course this could have been something like gangrene arising from an injury. The National Roll however, does say "killed", which might suggest an accident, rather than illness. There is a large semantic gap between the passive died, and the active "killed". Finding an obituary in the Smethwick Telephone might clear this up. He is also mentioned by name on page 3 of the Birmingham Evening Despatch, of 17 March 1917. It would be useful to find that article.
After his death on 4th March, he was buried at Contay British Cemetery in Contay. His remains are interred in Grave Reference number VII. B. 32. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals, in common with all other servicemen who joined from 1st January, 1916 onwards.
Little is now known in the family about what might have happened to Sarah and George after Alfred’s death. Sarah appears to have moved by the time the then Imperial War Graves Commission created its records. The CWGC website lists Alfred as having been the husband of Mrs. S.A. Robottom of 58 Cranford Street, Smethwick. It is certainly possible that she would have given up the family home and perhaps moved in with relations, or taken smaller lodgings after Alfred's death. It is likely although not conclusively proved that George lived in the area until 1974.
Thanks to the recent release (early 2015) of the Soldiers’s Effects Registers, it is now clear that Sarah remarried about a year after Alfred’s death, to another man named Alfred. Her new last name is recorded in these registers, as she was paid three pounds. The next piece of information that would be good to find is if the ambulance records covering Alfred’s death are ever released by Military Genealogy.
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